Mapping Ecosystem Services for proposing NbS in urban planning

ID: 1601

Presenting Author: Amarilis Gallardo

Session: 665 - Planning Support Systems for Environmental Assessment and Urban Decision-Making

Status: pending


Summary Statement

To identify locations and propose typologies of nature-based solutions for flooding problems and scarcity of green areas from geospatial analysis of urban water regulation ecosystem services


Abstract

Achieving resilience and sustainability in cities has called for geospatial analysis tools in urban planning for informed decision-making. In high socio-environmental vulnerability areas with a lack of green spaces, nature-based solutions (NbS) are proposed to address urban problems and generate environmental and quality-of-life benefits. The Brasilândia neighborhood in São Paulo city (Brazil) was chosen as a case study because it has a high percentage of favelas, scarcity of green spaces, and a high incidence of flooding. The municipal master plan mandates developing neighborhood plans for implementing community improvements. A geospatial analysis of the ecosystem services (ES) supply and demand was undertaken to identify areas for NbS implementation to mitigate flooding and increase green spaces. The InVEST software was used for this purpose, employing the specific ES module for urban flood risk regulation. These ESs were spatially analyzed in the territory, allowing us to identify the most appropriate NbS locations and typologies. These results guided the use of microscale NbS, such as rain gardens and bioswales, in areas with lower ES availability. This analysis also allowed us to define specific projects aimed at increasing resilience in the territory and expanding the availability of other ESs associated with the implementation of NbS in the Vila Brasilândia neighborhood plan. The conclusion is that support systems for solving climate-exacerbated phenomena in the urban environment can be used for improving sustainability in cities.


Author Bio

Associate Professor at the Universidade de São Paulo developing research and teaching in environmental planning with impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment having more tha


Coauthor 1: Mariella Succi

Coauthor 2: Roberta Mülfarth

Coauthor 3: Miguel Bucalem

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